Technology

Helium supply strained as Iran war disrupts Qatari output and Hormuz closure

CBS News reports that Iran war disruptions have squeezed helium supply, and a former Air Liquide executive says spot prices have tripled.

Updated Oct 19, 2026 · 00:12 UTC2 reports

The short version

The February closure of the Strait of Hormuz trapped about one-third of global helium supply in the Persian Gulf.[CBS News · CBS News]
Iranian strikes on Qatar's Ras Laffan plant in March damaged a site that produces helium as a byproduct of natural gas; helium is needed for smartphones, MRI machines and missiles.[CBS News · CBS News]
Spot prices have tripled since the war began, according to former Air Liquide executive Rich Brooke, and Qatar says Ras Laffan needs at least three years to return to full operation.[CBS News · CBS News]
Some suppliers are drawing on salt-cavern reserves, and how long U.S. supply can meet demand from South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore depends on how long the war lasts.[CBS News · CBS News]

The February closure of the Strait of Hormuz trapped one-third of global helium supply in the Persian Gulf.[CBS News · CBS News]
Iranian strikes on Qatar's Ras Laffan facility in March damaged a plant that produces helium as a byproduct of natural gas.[CBS News]
After the strikes, Qatar said Ras Laffan would take at least three years to return to full operation.[CBS News · CBS News]
U.S. helium exports are up 70% since the war began, according to U.S. Census Bureau export data.[CBS News · CBS News]
Spot prices for helium have tripled since the war began, according to former Air Liquide executive Rich Brooke.[CBS News · CBS News]
The semiconductor industry consumes one-fifth of the world's helium, according to the Compressed Gas Association.[CBS News · CBS News]
Polar Semiconductors says about 40-50% of machines in its fab use helium, and it plans to double capacity to roughly 140 million chips a month.[CBS News · CBS News]

How long the war lasts is unresolved, and the length of the helium shortage and of U.S. supply to Asian buyers depends on it.[CBS News · CBS News]
Qatar's three-year timeline for Ras Laffan is a stated projection made after the strikes, not a confirmed recovery date.[CBS News · CBS News]
The spot-price tripling is attributed to a single former industry executive, Rich Brooke, rather than to a separately verified price series.[CBS News · CBS News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.